36th Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2023 Inaugurated at Faridabad.

• The Surajkund Mela is an international event that aims to promote locally produced handicraft items in India and International Platform.
• The Surajkund Mela is unique event that showcases the richness and diversity of the handicrafts, handlooms and cultural fabric of India. Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2023 is the largest crafts fair in the world.

Background

• In 2013, the fair was upgraded to an international level and in 2015, a record number of 20 countries participated in the Mela. Lebanon was the Partner Nation and Chhattisgarh, the Theme State.
• In 2014, over 15 countries from European & African continents participated in the Mela including SAARC nations.
• Organizing Body: The Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2023 is organized by the Surajkund Mela Authority & Haryana Tourism in collaboration with Union Ministries of Tourism, Textiles, Culture and External Affairs.
• Surajkund Mela is an annual event that is held during the first fortnight of each February.
• At least 20 countries & all the states of India will be participating in the Surajkund International Mela.
• Partner Nation: Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is the partner nation in 36th Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2023.
• North Eastern Region is the theme state in the 36th Surajkund International Crafts Mela.

Objectives

• To promote handicrafts, handlooms with the aid of craftsmen invited from all over the country.
• To identify languishing and lesser known crafts and to introduce them to patrons.
• To display crafts and loom techniques by organising demonstration sections in the Mela grounds.
• To undertake the promotion of export of handlooms and handicrafts.
• To set up an environment in which rural crafts traditions could be displayed and to project the traditional rural ambience of a typical village near Delhi for travellers who may not have the time or means to visit an Indian village.